104 FOREST LIFE IN ACADIE. 



on the mossy bogs. He has found his voice, too, and,' 

 where moose are numerous, the hitherto silent woodsi 

 resound with the plaintive call of the cow, the grunting 

 response of her mate, and the crashings of dead trees, as] 

 the horns are rapidly drawn across them to overawe an] 

 approaching rival. 



This call of the cow-moose is imitated by the Indian 

 hunter through a trumpet made of birch bark rolled up 

 in the form of a cone, about two feet in length ; and the 

 deceit is generally attempted by moonlight, or in the 

 early morning in the twilight preceding sunrise — seldom 

 after. Secreting himself behind a sheltering clump of 

 bushes or rocks, on the edge of the forest barren, on some 

 favourable night in September or October, when the 

 moon is near its full, and not a breath of wind stirs the 

 foliage, the hunter utters the plaintive call to allure the 

 monarch of the forest to his destruction. The startling 

 and strange sound reverberates through the country; and 

 as its echoes die away, and everything resumes the won- 

 derful silence of the woods on a calm frosty night in the 

 fall, he drops his birchen trumpet in the bushes, and 

 assumes the attitude of intense listening. Perhaps there 

 is no response ; when, after an interval of about fifteen 

 minutes, he ascends a small tree, so as to give greater 

 range to the sound, and again sends his wild call pealing 

 through the woods. Presently a low grunt, quickly 

 repeated, comes from over some distant hill, and snappings 

 of branches, and falling trees, attest the approach of the 

 bull ; perhaps there is a pause — not a sound to be heard 

 for some moments. The hunter, now doubly careful, 

 knowing that his voice is criticised by the exquisite ear 

 of the bull, kneels down, and, thrusting the mouth of his 



